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4 Mavericks players the Lakers have to demand in any LeBron trade

By Josh Cornelissen

DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 26 : Josh Green #8 of the Dallas Mavericks passes the ball around Mo Bamba #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the game at American Airlines Center on February 26, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - FEBRUARY 26 : Josh Green #8 of the Dallas Mavericks passes the ball around Mo Bamba #12 of the Los Angeles Lakers in the first half of the game at American Airlines Center on February 26, 2023 in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /
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Los Angeles Lakers
Reggie Bullock, Dallas Mavericks. Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images /

The Lakers have to demand Reggie Bullock

James is making $46.9 million next season in the first season of a two-year, $97.5 million extension. That’s a lot of money for the Mavericks to match in a trade, but if they are going to re-sign Irving they need to get close enough not to rocket deep into the luxury tax. The Mavs will likely try to build a salary-matching deal around Tim Hardaway Jr. and Davis Bertans, but the Lakers have to remand that Reggie Bullock is included instead of one of those two.

Hardaway Jr. has some scoring and shooting pop, but he’s substantially overpaid and a sieve on defense. He will be a difficult player to trade to another team for value. The same goes for Davis Bertans, who is on a negative-value contract. If the Lakers want someone who can either help them win or, more likely, be sent to another team for something worthwhile in return, Bullock is the way to go.

The 10-year veteran is the definition of a 3-and-D wing, a low-usage shooter who can defend multiple positions. His 3-point shot tends to be a bit streaky, but for his career, he’s a 38.4% shooter (he hit 38% last season). 84.5% of his shots last season were 3-pointers; he’s a one-trick pony, but that trick is highly valuable to contending teams.

For that reason, like with Kleber, the Mavericks will almost certainly try to hold onto Bullock as a glue guy to start between Irving, Doncic and James. The Lakers need to push to make sure much of the salary matching works in their favor.

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